1. Jean-narrator; person that tells the story, autobiography of her life
2. Mother
3. Father
4. Miss Williams- teacher to Jean
5. Lin Nai Nai- Jean teaches her English
6. Andrea Hull- Jean’s best friend, she is older and tells Jean information
7. Ian Forbes- a student in Jean’s class that she fears
Setting
The story takes place in Hankow, China. Jean has moved from America to China with her parents.
Key Points
Jean is homesick for America.
She does not want to sing “God Save the Queen” at her British school because she is an American.
Jean gets in trouble for not singing and decides to skip school the following day.
Jean’s teacher, Miss Williams, comes to her house to check on her the day that she skips school.
Jean’s father tells Jean to sing, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” because it is the same tune as “God Save the Queen.”
Conflict
Jean is a homesick American student living in China. She feels left out, especially when her class sings, “God Save the Queen.” She is fearful of her fellow student, Ian Forbes and dislikes her teacher.
Things to Think About
Facts are statements that can be proven. Opinions are thoughts and feelings, they cannot be proven.
o Fact example: There are 30 children in the classroom.
o Opinion example: The lunch today was really good.
Writing about personal experiences is called an autobiography.
Jean tells this story to show others what her life was like in China.
Jean has principles and believes in doing what she thinks is right. This is shown when she refuses to sing the British anthem, because she is American.
Jean tricks Lin Nai Nai because it is the only person that she can hurt, but she realizes how mean spirited she has been and takes it back.
Jean feels out of place because she is an American attending a British school and living in a French area.
Jean shares her orange with a child because she wants to feel accepted.
Jean wants to be a writer when she grows up.
Jean likes that she is told to memorize poetry by her teacher.
Jean gets excited that she finds the framework of Chinese junk.
Jean’s parents disapprove of her skipping school and refusing to sing the national anthem.
Jean’s parents do not want her to start a revolution with her actions.
Jean’s parents want her to act British, even though she is not. They use the phrase, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Some words have positive connotations, while others have negative connotations.
o Examples of positive connotations
§ Strokes- to pet
§ Comforting-to give support
o Examples of negative connotations
§ Bossy- to tell someone what to do
§ Arrogant- to think that one is better than another
§ Glowers- to show anger on your face
Essay Question
On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph telling why you agree or disagree with the following statement about Jean Fritz. Be sure to support your opinion with at least two examples from the selection.
The author was fortunate to have grown up in China.
Word to Own
Main Characters
Setting
The story takes place in Hankow, China. Jean has moved from America to China with her parents.
Key Points
Conflict
Jean is a homesick American student living in China. She feels left out, especially when her class sings, “God Save the Queen.” She is fearful of her fellow student, Ian Forbes and dislikes her teacher.
Things to Think About
Essay Question
On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph telling why you agree or disagree with the following statement about Jean Fritz. Be sure to support your opinion with at least two examples from the selection.
The author was fortunate to have grown up in China.